Qt Documentation

Connecting Embedded Linux Devices

You can connect embedded Linux devices to the development PC to build, run, debug, and analyze applications on them from Qt Creator.

If you have a tool chain for building applications for embedded Linux devices installed on the development PC, you can add it to Qt Creator. You can then select a kit with Embedded Linux device type to build and run applications on embedded Linux devices.

To be able to run and debug applications on embedded Linux devices, you must add devices and select them in the Qt Creator kit.

You use a wizard to create the connections. You can edit the settings later in Tools > Options > Devices.

You can protect the connections between Qt Creator and a device by using either a password or an SSH key. If you do not have an SSH key, you can create it in Qt Creator. For more information, see Generating SSH Keys.

To configure connections between Qt Creator and an embedded Linux device and to specify build and run settings for the device:

In the The name to identify this configuration field, enter a name for the connection.

In the The device's host name or IP address field, enter the host name or IP address of the device. This value will be available in the variable %{Device:HostAddress}.

In the The username to log into the device field, enter the username to log into the device and run the application as. This value will be available in the variable %{Device:UserName}.

In the The authentication type field, select whether to use Password or Key authentication, and enter the user's password or the file that contains the user's private key. The latter will be available in the variable %{Device:PrivateKeyFile}.

Click Next to create the connection.

All of these parameters can be edited later, as well as additional ones that the wizard does not show because there are sensible default values. One of these is the SSH port number, which is available in the variable %{Device:SshPort}.

Select Tools > Options > Build & Run > Kits > Add to add a kit for building for the device. Select the Qt version, compiler, and device that you added above, and choose Generic Linux Device for the device type.